Device isolation for III-V substrates

ABSTRACT

Techniques for device isolation for III-V semiconductor substrates are provided. In one aspect, a method of fabricating a III-V semiconductor device is provided. The method includes the steps of: providing a substrate having an indium phosphide (InP)-ready layer; forming an iron (Fe)-doped InP layer on the InP-ready layer; forming an epitaxial III-V semiconductor material layer on the Fe-doped InP layer; and patterning the epitaxial III-V semiconductor material layer to form one or more active areas of the device. A III-V semiconductor device is also provided.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to III-V semiconductor devices, and moreparticularly, to techniques for device isolation for III-V semiconductorsubstrates (such as III-V virtual substrates).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Lattice mismatch is a factor when forming one material on another,different, material. For instance, when forming epitaxialsilicon-germanium (SiGe) on a silicon substrate the crystal lattice ofthe silicon will serve as a template for the SiGe growth and, eventhough the SiGe has a larger lattice constant than silicon, the SiGewill conform to the silicon crystal lattice structure. However, thiswill cause strain in the SiGe layer, and that strain will increase asmore SiGe is grown.

For the above-described reasons, the lattice mismatch problem remains achallenge for implementing III-V semiconductor materials in devicefabrication that uses heterogeneous epitaxial layers or substrate (e.g.,forming III-V epitaxial layers on a silicon substrate). To address thisproblem, virtual III-V on silicon substrates have been proposed wherethere is a gradual change in material composition starting from thesilicon substrate up to a layer which has a closer matched latticeconstant to a III-V material and is used for the device fabrication. Fora discussion of virtual III-V substrates see, for example, E.Garcia-Tabares et al., “Integration of III-V materials on siliconsubstrates for multi-junction solar cell applications,” 2011 SpanishConference on Electron Devices (CDE), Feb. 8-11 2011; and U.S. PatentApplication Publication Number 2012/0223362 A1 filed by Belenky et al.,entitled “Compound Semiconductor Device on Virtual Substrate.” Thecontents of each of these references are incorporated by reference as iffully set forth herein.

However, unlike silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrates where deviceisolation is easily achieved by etching the SOI layer which rests on aburied oxide (or BOX), III-V devices that are made on virtual III-V onsilicon substrates do not have a convenient way of achieving isolation.

Therefore, given the lattice mismatch challenges highlighted above,techniques for achieving device isolation for III-V devices, such as(but not limited to) those built on III-V on silicon virtual substrateswould be desirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Techniques for device isolation for III-V semiconductor substrates areprovided. In one aspect of the invention, a method of fabricating aIII-V semiconductor device is provided. The method includes the stepsof: providing a substrate having an indium phosphide-ready layer;forming an iron-doped indium phosphide layer on the indiumphosphide-ready layer; forming an epitaxial III-V semiconductor materiallayer on the iron-doped indium phosphide layer; and patterning theepitaxial III-V semiconductor material layer to form one or more activeareas of the device.

In another aspect of the invention, a III-V semiconductor device isprovided. The device includes a substrate having an indiumphosphide-ready layer; an iron-doped indium phosphide layer on theindium phosphide-ready layer; and an epitaxial III-V semiconductormaterial layer on the iron-doped indium phosphide layer, wherein theepitaxial III-V semiconductor material layer is patterned into one ormore active areas of the device.

A more complete understanding of the present invention, as well asfurther features and advantages of the present invention, will beobtained by reference to the following detailed description anddrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional diagram illustrating a starting platform forfabricating a III-V semiconductor device having an indium phosphide(InP)-ready layer on which an epitaxial iron (Fe)-doped InP layer isgrown as an insulator according to an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional diagram illustrating a layer of an epitaxialIII-V semiconductor material (e.g., InGaAs) having been grown on theFe-doped InP layer according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional diagram illustrating trenches having beenpatterned in the III-V semiconductor layer to form mesas in the III-Vsemiconductor layer which make up distinct active areas of the device inthe III-V semiconductor layer according to an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional diagram illustrating an alternativeembodiment wherein a thin buffer layer is employed between the Fe-dopedInP layer and the III-V semiconductor material to prevent Fe dopingcarrier traps, and trenches having been patterned in the III-Vsemiconductor layer/buffer layer to form mesas according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional diagram illustrating an alternativeisolation embodiment wherein the III-V semiconductor layer has beenpatterned into one or more fin-shaped channels according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional diagram illustrating another alternativeembodiment involving use of a thin buffer layer between the Fe-doped InPlayer and the III-V semiconductor material, and fins having beenpatterned in the III-V semiconductor layer and the buffer layer to formfin-shaped channels according to an embodiment of the present invention;and

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional diagram, following from FIG. 6, whichillustrates an optional process of oxidizing the buffer layer to achievea further level of isolation of the fins according to an embodiment ofthe present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary starting platform forfabricating a III-V semiconductor device, i.e., a device wherein theactive area thereof is formed from a III-V semiconductor material. Theterm “III-V semiconductor material (or simply III-V material), as usedherein and throughout the following description, refers to a materialthat includes at least one group III element and at least one group Velement. By way of example only, suitable III-V materials include, butare not limited to, one or more of aluminum gallium arsenide, aluminumgallium nitride, aluminum indium arsenide, aluminum nitride, galliumantimonide, gallium arsenide, gallium nitride, indium antimonide, indiumarsenide, indium gallium arsenide, indium gallium nitride, indiumnitride, indium phosphide, indium gallium arsenide phosphide(In_(x)Ga_(1-x)As_(y)P_(1-y)) and combinations including at least one ofthe foregoing materials.

As described above, lattice mismatch issues have been a challenge forimplementing III-V device materials. As also described above, virtualIII-V on silicon (or Ge, SiGe, etc.) substrates have been proposed as away to provide a graded buffer layer lattice matched on one end to theunderlying (e.g., silicon) substrate and on the other to a III-Vmaterial. Thus, in the example now described, a virtual III-V on siliconsubstrate is being used as a starting substrate. However, it is to beunderstood that the use of a III-V on silicon substrate is merely anexample intended to illustrate the present techniques, and that anyother virtual III-V (including but not limited to virtual III-V ongermanium, etc.) or more generally any other suitable substrate on whichformation of a III-V device material is desirable may be employed in thesame manner as described herein.

As shown in FIG. 1, in this example, the virtual III-V on siliconsubstrate includes a silicon (Si) wafer 102 and a graded III-V bufferlayer 104. As will be described in detail below, an iron (Fe)-dopedindium phosphide (InP) layer will be epitaxially grown on the substrate.Thus, the goal is to produce an InP-ready layer, i.e., a layer on whichInP (or a material having the same crystal structure and latticeconstant as InP) can be grown as a device grade material since, asdescribed above, lattice mismatch is a concern when growing an epitaxialIII-V material, such as InP, on a silicon substrate. By “device gradematerial” it is meant that the material (i.e., InP or a material havingthe same crystal structure and lattice constant as InP) grown on theInP-ready layer (see below) is as defect free as possible (i.e.,defect-free or near defect-free). Namely, crystal defects (measured forexample by the number of defects per cm²) can form even if the latticeconstant of the seed layer is the same as the epitaxial layer. Forexample silicon and GaP (gallium phosphide) have almost the same latticeconstant, however, it is difficult to grow GaP over Si without defectsdue to occurrence of antiphase boundaries (see for example, V. Narayananet. al., “Antiphase boundaries in GaP layers grown on (001) Si bychemical beam epitaxy,” Acta Materialia vol. 50, issue 6 (April 2002),pgs. 1275-1287; B. J. Ohlsson, “Anti-domain-free GaP, grown inatomically flat (001) Si sub-μm-sized openings,” Appl. Phys. Letters,80(24), p. 4546 (June 2002); and R. M. Sieg, “Toward device-quality GaAsgrowth by molecular beam epitaxy on offcut Ge/Si_(1-x)Ge_(x)/Sisubstrates,” J. Vac. Sci. Technol. B: Microelectronics and NanometerStructures, vol. 16, issue 3, pgs. 1471-1474 (May 1998), the contents ofeach of which are incorporated by reference as if fully set forthherein). Thus, to test if a semiconductor layer meets the criteria of adevice grade material several tests can be performed. Test (1): thecarrier mobility and carrier concentration of the layer under test canbe measured for example using a Hall Effect measurement. Hall Effectmeasurement techniques are known to those of skill in the art. The layerunder test would be considered to be a “device grade material” if thecarrier mobility is within a few percent of the carrier mobility in asimilar layer with a same carrier concentration that was formed on anative substrate. Test (2): for direct bandgap materials, the layerunder test would be considered as “device grade material” if thephotoluminescence (PL) of the layer under test exhibits similar spectraland intensity characteristics as an identical layer that was formed on anative substrate. The photoluminescence spectra should be measured atroom temperature (300K) and at 77K. As is known in the art,photoluminescence measures the emission of light from a sample after theabsorption of photons. Test (3): the surface roughness of theepitaxially grown layer under test, as measured for example by atomicforce microscope (AFM) should be within a few percent from the roughnessof an identical layer grown on a native substrate. Test (4): a p-njunction formed in the layer under test should have a similar reversedcurrent, ideality factor, and breakdown voltage as a p-n junction formedin an identical layer that was grown on a native substrate.

One possible approach to providing an InP-ready layer, as shown in FIG.1, is to employ a graded III-V buffer layer that has aprogressive/gradual change in lattice constant from that of theunderlying silicon wafer (at one side of the buffer layer) to that ofInP (on the other side of the buffer layer). In general, the gradedIII-V buffer layer can be formed by depositing layers in a stack, one ontop of the other, wherein the crystal structure of each layer isprogressively more/less similar to InP/Si as one moves up the stack. Asa result of this gradual progression, the top of the buffer layerprovides a defect-free (or near-defect-free) InP-ready layer. Accordingto an exemplary embodiment, the InP-ready layer is InP, indium galliumarsenide (InGaAs), or indium aluminum arsenide (InAlAs). This type ofbuffered wafer configuration is also referred to herein as a virtualIII-V on silicon substrate. The process for forming an InP-ready layervia a graded III-V buffer layer is described, for example, in Li Yang etal., “Compositionally-graded InGaAs—InGaP alloys and GaAsSb alloys formetamorphic InP on GaAs,” Journal of Crystal Growth 324 p.103-109 (April2011); M. K. Hudait, “High-quality InAs_(y)P_(1-y) step-graded buffer bymolecular-beam epitaxy,” Appl. Phys. Lett., 82(19), p.3212 (May 2003);and S. B. Samavedam, “High-quality germanium photodiodes integrated onsilicon substrates using optimized relaxed graded buffers,” Appl. Phys.Lett. 73, p. 2125 (October 1998), the contents of each of which areincorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.

As highlighted above, the goal here is to provide an InP-ready layer onthe substrate. While use of a virtual III-V on silicon substrate is onepossible way to achieve an InP-ready layer, the present techniques maybe employed in conjunction with any suitable process for attaining anInP-ready layer or surface. Thus, regardless of what process is used,the result is a substrate having an InP-ready layer or surface. SeeFIG. 1. In general, an InP-ready surface/layer is a surface or layer onwhich InP and other materials latticed matched to InP (such asIn_(0.53)Ga_(0.47)As or In_(0.5)Al_(0.5)As) can be epitaxially depositedwithout incurring substantial strain. For instance, an epitaxial layerthat would be deposited over the InP-ready layer/surface would havesubstantially the same structural properties as if it would have beendeposited over a native InP substrate. More specifically, the amount ofstrain developing in an epitaxial layer that is deposited over theInP-ready layer would be less than the critical threshold that wouldlead to a formation of a defect such as a misfit dislocation (see forexample, R. People and J. C. Bean, “Calculation of critical layerthickness versus lattice mismatch for Ge_(x)Si_(1-x)/Si strained-layerheterostructures,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 47, 322 (August 1985) (hereinafter“People and Bean”), the contents of which are incorporated by referenceas if fully set forth herein).

Next, as shown in FIG. 1, an epitaxial Fe-doped InP layer 106 is grownon the InP-ready layer. Based on the graded III-V buffer layer 106 orother suitable process to provide an InP-ready layer, the Fe-doped InPlayer 106 is defect free (or near defect-free (see above)). A defectfree Fe-doped InP layer can be epitaxially deposited on a native InPsubstrate. The quality of such a layer (measured for example by thenumber of defects per cm²) when deposited over a virtual substrate woulddepend on how similar the InP-ready layer/surface is to a native InPsurface. See above discussion regarding device grade materials. Fe-dopedInP is generally considered to be a semi-insulator (see, for example, M.Uchida et al., “Fe Doping and Preparation of Semi-Insulating InP byWafer Annealing under Fe Phosphide Vapor Pressure,” 1998 InternationalConference on Indium Phosphide and Related Materials, pgs. 377-380 (May1998), the contents of which are incorporated by reference as if fullyset forth herein). For a general discussion of epitaxial growth ofFe-doped InP see, for example, Huang et al., “High quality Fe-dopedsemi-insulating InP epitaxial layers grown by low-pressureorganometallic vapor phase epitaxy using tertiarybutylphosphine,”Applied Physics Letters, vol. 58, issue 2, pgs. 170-172 (January 1991),the contents of which are incorporated by reference as if fully setforth herein. According to an exemplary embodiment, epitaxial Fe-dopedInP layer 106 is grown to a thickness of from about 100 nanometers (nm)to about 10 micrometers (μm), or thicker.

When InP is doped with iron (Fe), the iron is incorporated as a mid-gaptrap that sets the Fermi level to be pinned to near the center of thebandgap. As a result, the InP layer has a very low concentration ofelectrons and holes. This low carrier concentration is similar to anintrinsic (perfectly undoped) crystal, but much easier to achieve inpractice. The Fe-doped InP is called “semi-insulating,” reflecting itshigh resistivity of greater than 1E5 Ω·cm (e.g., 1E7 Ω·cm) (which isquite high for a semiconductor, but still lower than a true insulatorlike silicon dioxide (SiO₂)). It is notable that while iron (Fe) ischosen herein as the dopant to make semi-insulating InP, other dopants(for example chromium (Cr)) may instead be used to make semi-insulatingInP, i.e., Cr-doped InP.

Next, a layer 202 of an epitaxial III-V semiconductor material is grownon the Fe-doped InP layer 106. See FIG. 2. Suitable III-V materials wereprovided above. According to an exemplary embodiment, the III-V materialin layer 202 is indium gallium arsenide (InGaAs). As used herein, InGaAsrefers to a group of compounds that include indium, gallium and arsenic,the precise composition of which can be controlled during epitaxy. Tolattice match In_(x)Ga_(1-x)As to the lattice constant of InP, acomposition of x=0.53 is required. A higher content of indium (forexample x=0.7) may be used since In_(0.7)Ga_(0.3)As has better electrontransport characteristic than latticed matched InGaAs.

To insure as defect-free a layer as possible, the III-V material chosenfor layer 202 is preferably a lattice match to the underlying Fe-dopedInP layer 106, or made thin enough so that the strain accumulated inlayer 202 is below the critical thickness for forming a dislocation (seePeople and Bean). For instance, when the III-V material chosen for layer202 is InGaAs, In_(0.53)Ga_(0.47)As in particular has a crystal latticethat matches Fe-doped InP. While lattice matching layer 202 to theunderlying insulator (i.e., Fe-doped InP layer 106 is a consideration toachieve a high-quality active layer), in general any III-V material(including any particular InGaAs composition) may be used to form layer202 in accordance with the present techniques.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the layer 202 is formed having athickness of from about 5 nm to about 25 nm (e.g., about 10 nm) whenplanar devices will be fabricated on the wafer, and from about 50 nm toabout 100 nm when finFET devices will be fabricated on the wafer.

Isolation of distinct active areas of the wafer may now be performed ina couple of different ways. In a first exemplary embodiment, active areaisolation is carried out by mesa isolation. Namely, as shown in FIG. 3,trenches 302 are patterned in the III-V layer 202 to form mesas 304 inthe III-V layer 202 which make up distinct active areas of the device inIII-V layer 202.

Mesa isolation can be carried out using a lithography and etchingprocess. For instance, a mask (not shown) can be formed on the III-Vlayer 202 with the footprint and location of the trenches 302. Anetching process such as reactive ion etching can then be used to patternthe trenches 302, followed by removal of the mask. A selective etchchemistry may be used to etch the trenches in the III-V layer 202 andstopping on the Fe-doped InP layer 106 as shown in FIG. 3. With thisconfiguration the Fe-doped InP layer 106 acts as a buried oxide (orBOX), and the III-V mesas 304 serve as active areas of the wafer uponwhich, e.g., conductive lines (not shown), such as gate lines and localinterconnects (not shown) can be run without forming shorts.

When the III-V layer 202 is thin, e.g., less than about 50 nm, there isa chance that the mid-gap Fe traps can electrically affect the devicechannel. See, for example, Cesna et al., “Carrier trapping in iron-dopedGaInP,” Journal of Applied Physics, vol. 85, Issue 2 (January 1999), thecontents of which are incorporated by reference as if fully set forthherein. In order to avoid these Fe doping carrier traps, according to analternative embodiment, the interface between the Fe-doped InP layer 106and the III-V layer 202 can be passivated by the insertion of a thinbuffer layer 402 therebetween. See FIG. 4.

As it illustrates an alternative embodiment, FIG. 4 is intended tofollow from FIG. 1 following growth of the Fe-doped InP layer 106 (andprior to the formation of the III-V layer 202 as illustrated in FIG. 2).Namely, as shown in FIG. 4, following growth of the Fe-doped InP layer106, a thin buffer layer 402 is formed (e.g., by epitaxy) on theFe-doped InP layer 106. Preferably, the buffer layer 402 is formed froma III-V material that is lattice matched to Fe-doped InP layer 106 toprevent the introduction of defects at this stage in the process. By wayof example only, according to an exemplary embodiment, the buffer layer402 is formed from indium aluminum arsenide (InAlAs) or intrinsic InP(i-InP) both of which are lattice matched to Fe-doped InP. The bufferlayer is preferably thin, e.g., having a thickness of from about 2nanometers (nm) to about 20 nm.

Following formation of the buffer layer 402 on the Fe-doped InP layer106, the fabrication process can then proceed as described in detailabove, to form the layer 202 of an epitaxial III-V semiconductormaterial, form mesa isolation trenches 302, etc. In this instance,however, the III-V layer 202 is formed on the buffer layer 402, whichmakes sense since the buffer layer 402 is used to passivate theinterface between the Fe-doped InP layer 106 and the III-V layer 202.Further, in this particular embodiment, the trenches 302 are formedthrough both the III-V layer 202 and the buffer layer 402 (stopping onthe Fe-doped InP layer 106. See FIG. 4.

Active area isolation by patterned mesas, as described in conjunctionwith FIGS. 3 and 4 above, may be used in the case of planar devices.Isolation methods are also provided herein for use in tri-gate/finFETdevices. As is known in the art, tri-gate and finFET devices include oneor more fin-shaped channels interconnecting source and drain regions ofthe devices. In this case, the III-V layer 202 is patterned to form thefins. See FIG. 5.

For instance, a lithography and etching process (as described above) canbe used to pattern one or more fins 502 in the layer 202. In the exampleshown in FIG. 5, the patterned fins 502 are present over the (insulator)Fe-doped InP layer 106. Standard processing can then be used to formsource, drain and gate electrodes (not shown) to the fin channels 502.

As provided above, Fe doping carrier traps can be avoided through theuse of a thin buffer layer at the interface between the III-V layer 202and the Fe-doped InP layer. As shown in FIG. 6, this buffer layer 602can be employed with the tri-gate/finFET configuration.

As it illustrates an alternative embodiment, FIG. 6 is intended tofollow from FIG. 1 following growth of the Fe-doped InP layer 106 (andprior to the formation of the III-V layer 202 as illustrated in FIG. 2).Namely, as shown in FIG. 6, following growth of the Fe-doped InP layer106, a thin buffer layer 602 is formed (e.g., by epitaxy) on theFe-doped InP layer 106. Preferably, the buffer layer 602 is formed froma III-V material that is lattice matched to Fe-doped InP layer 106.According to an exemplary embodiment, the buffer layer 602 is formedfrom InAlAs or intrinsic InP (i-InP) both of which are lattice matchedto Fe-doped InP. As described above, the buffer layer is preferablythin, e.g., having a thickness of from about 2 nm to about 20 nm.

Following formation of the buffer layer 602 on the Fe-doped InP layer106, the fabrication process can then proceed as described in detailabove, to form the layer 202 of an epitaxial III-V semiconductormaterial, form fins 502, etc. In this instance, however, the III-V layer202 is formed on the buffer layer 602 so that the buffer layer 602 canpassivate the interface between the Fe-doped InP layer 106 and the III-Vlayer 202. Further, in this particular embodiment, the fins 502 areformed in the III-V layer 202 and the buffer layer 602. See FIG. 6.

It is notable that while the patterning of mesas for isolation in planardevices and the patterning of fins for non-planar tri-gate/finFETdevices are shown in the figures being performed on different wafers,this is done is merely for ease and clarity of depiction. If so desired,the present techniques may be employed in the same manner described toform the Fe-doped InP layer, optional buffer layer, III-V materiallayer, and to pattern both mesas and fins in the same wafer.

As provided above, one goal of the present techniques is to achieveisolation in III-V semiconductor devices by way of a Fe-doped InP layer(on an InP-ready layer). Optionally, in the embodiments employing abuffer layer (see, for example, FIGS. 4 and 6, described above) to getadditional isolation, the buffer layer can be converted to an insulator(e.g., through oxidation). By way of example only, as provided above, asuitable material for the buffer layer is InAlAs. InAlAs can be oxidizedto form aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃), an insulator. Aluminum, in particular,more readily oxidizes than the other materials contemplated herein (suchas InGaAs for the III-V layer 202) and thus is easily oxidized selectiveto these other materials. Thus, according to an exemplary embodiment,the buffer layer is formed from InAlAs and following patterning of themesas 304 in the III-V layer/buffer layer (as shown in FIG. 4) and/orfollowing patterning the fins 502 in the III-V layer/buffer layer (asshown in FIG. 6), the wafer can be exposed to oxidizing ambient for aperiod of time sufficient to oxidize the InAlAs buffer layer to aluminumoxide (selective to the other materials). The oxidation rates forInAlAs, InP and InGaAs are detailed, for example, in R. J. Hussey,“Characterization of Oxides Formed on InP, InGaAs, InAlAs, andInGaAs/InAlAs Heterostructures at 300-500° C.,” Oxidation of Metals,June 2002, Vol 57, p. 427 (hereinafter “Hussey”), the contents of whichare incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. As describedin Hussey, InAlAs is preferentially oxidized in an oxidizing ambientwith good selectivity to InP and InGaAs with a ratio of oxidethicknesses InP:InGaAs:InAlAs being 1:1:80. The oxidation rate of InAlAsas a function of temperature can also be found in FIG. 1 of PremchanderPerumal et al., “Investigations of the characteristics of strain-freeoxidation on InAlAs epilayer lattice matched to indium phosphide,” Appl.Phys. Lett., vol 88, issue 20 201914 (May 2006), the contents of whichare incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.

This additional, optional step of selectively oxidizing the buffer layeris shown illustrated in FIG. 7. The example shown in FIG. 7 is thatinvolving fin isolation (for non-planar tri-gate/finFET devices).However, as described above, the same process applies to mesa isolationin planar device configurations. As shown in FIG. 7, followingpatterning of the fins 502 in the III-V layer 202 and buffer layer 602,the buffer layer is oxidized in an oxygen ambient to form oxideinsulator 602 a. FIG. 7 is meant to follow from FIG. 6 (i.e., oxidationof the buffer layer is performed after fins have been patterned in theIII-V layer/buffer layer.

Although illustrative embodiments of the present invention have beendescribed herein, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited to those precise embodiments, and that various other changes andmodifications may be made by one skilled in the art without departingfrom the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A III-V semiconductor device, comprising: asubstrate having an indium phosphide-ready layer; an iron-doped indiumphosphide layer on the indium phosphide-ready layer; and an epitaxialIII-V semiconductor material layer on the iron-doped indium phosphidelayer, wherein the epitaxial III-V semiconductor material layer ispatterned into one or more active areas of the device, and wherein theepitaxial III-V semiconductor material layer is patterned to form one ormore mesas which comprise the one or more active areas of the device. 2.The device of claim 1, further comprising: a buffer layer on theiron-doped indium phosphide layer such that the buffer layer is presentbetween the iron-doped indium phosphide layer and the epitaxial III-Vsemiconductor material layer.
 3. The device of claim 2, wherein thebuffer layer comprises indium aluminum arsenide or intrinsic indiumphosphide.
 4. The device of claim 2, wherein the buffer layer comprisesan oxide insulator.
 5. The device of claim 1, wherein the substratecomprises a graded III-V buffer layer on a silicon substrate, wherein aportion of the graded III-V buffer layer is the indium phosphide-readylayer, and wherein the InP-ready layer comprises indium phosphide,indium gallium arsenide, or indium aluminum arsenide.
 6. The device ofclaim 1, wherein the epitaxial III-V semiconductor material layercomprises a material selected from the group consisting of aluminumgallium arsenide, aluminum gallium nitride, aluminum indium arsenide,aluminum nitride, gallium antimonide, gallium arsenide, gallium nitride,indium antimonide, indium arsenide, indium gallium arsenide, indiumgallium nitride, indium nitride, indium phosphide, indium galliumarsenide phosphide and combinations comprising at least one of theforegoing materials.
 7. The device of claim 1, wherein the epitaxialIII-V semiconductor material layer comprises indium gallium arsenide.